I want to tell you about the time my husband lost his job. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time. School had just begun and it was my son’s first year. I have to admit we were nervous wrecks. I had to keep it together though in order to think things through and make strategic plans.
By the way, I have some wonderful children. I really appreciate them putting up with the way I’ve chosen to live my life; especially my daughter. She is my best friend and truly understands me. I am so grateful to have her in my life. She puts up with my old car and the noise it makes; but I also know that the legacy I leave my children will not only make them kind and considerate human beings but free thinkers and more self sufficient.
My daughter reads all of my work and gives me honest feedback. Her father, my ex-husband is my publisher and editor etc…my daughter is from my first marriage and I have a son from my current marriage. I’m very lucky that both fathers are extremely supportive and just all around great dads.
Anyway, here are some of the things I did in order to keep us going through the difficult financial times that came our way after having lost the home’s main income. We first calculated the amount of emergency money we had saved up. We have an emergency savings account that can’t be touched unless all else fails. We figured we had a couple of months but I didn’t want to dip into it, so I started working on alternative means of survival.
I first called the county help line. Every state and county should have one. Because I am disabled, I first spoke to social services and the office of disability. They in turn directed me to the help line number. This general information line covers everything from help with paying your rent to transportation if you can’t afford to get your car fixed .The way it primarily works is, different agencies as well as church groups join together and offer help.
A religious charity paid for our immediate bills such as electric and water. We then got help with the rent. This, in turn, allowed us to cover other smaller bills ourselves, such as phone, cable and car insurance. These agencies will only help pay for needs so don’t think you’re going to show up with a cell phone bill or cable bill and expect help. They will let you know the information you need to bring with you by phone before actually meeting with them. Don’t think of this as a handout but a hand up.
Through these help connections, I was able to travel to new places and meet new people that are actually part of my monthly money saving routine. I found connections for children’s school clothes at no cost, free school supplies, free pantry food and supplies, free holiday gift and food baskets, free dental care or dental care involving a 9.00 co-pay, help with job searches, and free entertainment, coupons and even vouchers to pick up toiletries for free at local grocery stores.
I was even able to sign my children up for free school lunches as a result of my being legally disabled. Free school lunches have extended benefits including free or reduced daycare and free school supplies, clothing and footwear.
With all the help we received we were able to avoid dipping into our emergency savings and I was still able to keep the family fed with nutritious simple meals; not to mention plenty of gas money. I only went to the grocery store for needed items I didn’t receive at the food pantries; my kids never new the difference.
We were able to bounce back right away after my husband finally found another job, which by the way, pays more, offers a retirement plan and investment choices and medical and dental insurance coverage for himself. My children and myself have free state insurance covered through my disability status.
I do have to say that my daughter’s father helped out quite a bit by giving extra child support and initially supplying my daughter with school clothes and supplies. I really thank him and appreciate him for that…and here we are, pretty much normalized again.
Things are looking up and life is good again. Don’t wait till you’re homeless or destitute to start looking for help. Make sure you try and build up an emergency savings for those hard times.
By being self sufficient and thinking ahead of time, my extended family and friends didn’t worry, I didn’t have to ask them for money or help and my savings was not lost…and most important of all, we didn’t end up homeless. This only made us stronger to take on life’s next big challenge. As long as my children are healthy and happy, I can get through anything. Till next time, remember…don’t stress about the holiday mess-later-g
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